Automatic control mechanism for folding machines



L. M. KAHN May 29, 1934.

AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM FOR FOLDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 9, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l m T N m w.

May29,1934- M. KAHN 1,960,940

AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM FOR FOLDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 9, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR May 29, 1934. L M. KAHN 1,960,940

AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM FOR FOLDING MACHINES I 'Y h A IN VENTOR Ma 29, 1934; L., M. KAHN 1,960,940

AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM FOR FOLDING MACHINES Fued Jan. 9, 1931 B-Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR May 29, 1934. KAHN 1,960,940

AUTOMATIC CONTROL macrumxsm FOR FOLDING mcamns Filed Jan. 9, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Patented May 29, 1934 UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM FOR FOLDING MACHINES Leo M Kahn, New York, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 9, 1931, Serial No. 507,556

9 Claims.

This invention relates to folding machines and more particularly to the automatic control mechanism therefor. 4

Among the objects of the invention are:

To provide for automatically folding articles of various sizes in predetermined ratio proportional to their lengths;

To provide for automatically selecting the ratio of fold division;

To include the measuring device and electrical control mechanism in a. unit that will control the actuaiion of the folding devices remotely therefrom;

To effect the measurement and the selection of the ratio of fold of the articles prior to the disposition of the arlicle in operative relation to the folder;

To effect the measurement and the selection of the ratio of fold of the articles by means of a plurality of riders travelling with members at fractional rates of speed relative to that of the moving article.

These and other objects are attained by a control device described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings forming part thereof, the novel improvements being specifically set forth in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the control device with parts removed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the control device, viewed along line 22 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the control device viewed along line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the por tion of control device shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 represents a detail of the rider.

Figs. 6 and '7 represent details of cams.

Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of a folding machine embodying the invention showing the electric circuit diagram.

Fig. 9 shows a typical form of the contact switch mechanism in. the folding machine, as

on a system of rollers B which are suitably driven and thereby cause the tapes C to move over them. Articles D are adapted to be fed from table E and to be frictionally conveyedby the tapes C toward folding devices F, F and thence to delivery tables' G.

Near the feeding end, disposed between the tapes C in the path of the articles D are switches 11 which are resiliently mounted and are adapted to be depressed by the articles D while same pass over them. Upon depression, switch 11 makes electrical contact with terminal 12 and thereby closes the circuit which energizes solenoids 13 and 14 remotely mounted in control box 15. Upon release of switch 11, spring 16 mounted on slide rod 17 as best shown in Fig. 9, causes the pivotally mounted lug 18 to actuate and immediately release switch 19 as the lug 18 moves back-with the rod 1'7. Actuation of switch 19 causes same to contact terminal 20 and thereby close the circuit which energizes solenoids 21 and 22 also mounted in control box 15, see Fig. 8.

The control box 15 is preferably mounted on the base of the frame A and shaft 23 mounted within the box and extending outside thereof is driven by means of chain drive 24 operatively connected to the same driving means as rollers B. The box 15 is also separately represented in the electrical diagram in Fig. 8 and Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show the contents thereof to an enlarged scale. Keyed to the shaft 23 is gear 25 which meshes with gear 26 and thereby drives shaft 2'? to which it is keyed, and the gears 23 and 29 which are likewise keyed to the shaft 2'7 as is best shown in Fig. 1. It is preferred that shafts 23 and 2'7 rotate at the same speed, the sheave 30 rotating with the shaft 23 to which it is keyed. Sheaves 31 and 32 are keyed to tubular shafts 33 and 34 respectively which are concentrically mounted on shaft 23 and are driven by means of gears 35 and 36 which mesh with gears 28 and 29 respectively. The gear ratios of gears 35 to 28 and 36 to 29 are preferably greater than one and each of the different value, so that sheave 31 rotates at say two thirds the speed of sheave 100 30 and sheave 32 rotates at say one half that speed.

Loosely mounted on shaft 23 between the sheaves 30 and 31 are a plurality of members 3'7, and between sheaves 30 and 32 are 05 similar members 38 ikewise mounted. Each of these members 37 and 38 have pivotally mounted thereon and successively aligned in one plane the riders 39 and 40 respectively, of which riders 39 are adapted to frictionally 110 engage either of sheaves 30 or 31, while the riders 40 are adapted to engage sheaves 30 or 32, and rotate with them at their respective speeds. At one extremity of each rider 39, 40 is a spring 41 which tends to hold the rider frictionally in contact with sheave 30.

At the other extremity of each of the riders is a roller 42 which is normally held in an outward disposition relative to the shaft 23 by virtue of the action of the spring 41. The progress of these rollers and the deflection of their course is a radial direction by various mechanical means, as explained hereafter, has been indicated on Fig. 2 by small dotted circles. Each of said riders 39 and 40 also has a slidably mounted projection piece 43 adapted to be moved approximately perpendicularly to the plane of rotation of the riders. As Figs. 1 and 5 indicate, this piece, formed like an inverted T and slidable in a double fork, can, either when the rider is travelling in a straight course, or while in act of tilting over from one speed-wheel to the other, be shifted into or out of the line of operative action by cams provided for this purpose and described later. A littlefriction disk 80 of soft rubber, provided over one of the sliding arms, prevents spontaneous dislocation, once the piece is shifted into one or the other position. When actuated by the momentary action of the plungers of solenoids 13 and 14, the rollers 42 are depressed to a lesser distance from shaft 23 than the deflecting guides 44 and 45, being formed as circular flanged disk segments and causing the riders to pivot about the members 37 and 38 respectively and the contact portions 46, 47 of the riders 39 and 40 respectively to be brought to bear against sheaves 31 and 32. Thus the riders are made to travel with sheaves 31 and 32 instead of with sheave 30, so long as rollers 42 are held within the confines of the guides 44 and 45 respectively.

When solenoids 21 and 22 are momentarily energized by the release of switch 11 by the rear edge of the article, they draw the guides 44 and 45 respectively away from the corresponding sheaves 31 and 32, springs 48, 49 restoring the guides to normal position. Thereupon the riders are restored to contact with sheave 30 with which they then travel. I The zoning of the articles and selection of the line of fold at the center or two thirds mark is effected by deflecting guides 50 and 51 in the path of riders 39 and guides 73 and 52 in the path of riders 40 see Fig. 2. These guides are adapted to deflect the slidable projection piece 43 into or out of the plane of the switches 53, 54 respectively, the aligned rider thereupon actuating the corresponding switch to contact the terminal 53, 54. Actuation of either of these switches closes the electromagnet 55 circuit, Fig. 8, and thereupon draws armature 56 to the contacts 5'7, which effect energization of the solenoid 58 and consequent actuation of the folder wedge 59 of folder F. The article is thereby drawn up between the rollers 60 along the desired line of fold and proceeds toward the next folder F.

The control device also zones articles into the number of folds as well as selects the ratio of fold division.. To that end, a switch 61, Fig. 2, is adapted to be actuated by a slidably mounted projection 62 on the extension 63 of rider 40.

' See Figs. 2 and 10. If the rider continues on the half speed wheel when passing cam 64, the projection 62 is moved by the cam 64 so that when the rider reaches switch 61 it will actuate zones, say as follows:

same and close the circuit including solenoid 65. A feather 81 prevents premature spontaneous dislocation of the shifted projection, similar to the function of the rubber disk 80.

Upon becoming energized solenoid 65 draws in plunger 66 and stop member 67 actuated by the spring 67' is shoved into the path of the riders 40, holding same until the article had been folded andhad progressed toward point 0'. When the leading edge of the folded article actuates switch 11 which is a duplicate of switch 11, solenoid 68 is energized and its plunger forces the solenoid 65 axially toward the shaft 23.

Thereby stop member 6'? is brought back into its original position with simultaneous compres sion of spring 67 and reengagement with plunger 66, so that when solenoid'68 is released, stop member 67 will be drawn back out of the way of the riders 40. By the forward movement of solenoid support 65, as aforesaid, the roller 42 is forced underneath the guide 69. This guide is similarly shaped to the afore-mentioned segmental circular guide 45. The rider 40 is the only one actuated thereby in the construction shown for effecting a center fold, and being thus frictionally engaged to Wheel 32, travels with the wheel at half the speed of the article until the rear edge of same releases switch 11' and thereby causes actuation of switch 19 and consequent energization of solenoid '70. Guide 69'is thereupon drawn back so that rider 40 resumes contact with the full speed wheel 30, travelling with same until projection 43 strikes switch '71 and thereby causes actuation of the folding device F see wiring diagram of Fig. 8 and left side of Fig. 2. As the rider continues its movement, projections 43 and 62 are realigned by cam 72 and cam 77 respectively, and the riders 39 and 40 line up at the rear of the riders, ready to be actuated again by the plunger of solenoids 13 and 14. This lining up of the riders and com- .11 which stays down until the rear edge releases it, i. e. for the full length of each article. During that interval a rider 39 is caused to travel with wheel 31 at say two-thirds the speed of the article, and a rider 40 simultaneously travels at say one half that speed while the circumferential speed of sheave 30 corresponds to the speed of the article itself.

Thus, for the full length of each article, one rider reaches a point two-thirds the length of the article while another rider is at the center relative to--the length of that article. This becomes more apparent by a comparison of diagram Fig. 13 with Figs. 2 and 3. Upon release of switch 11, solenoids 13 and 14 are deenergized and solenoids 21 and 22. are momentarily energized, so that by virtue of the temporary removal of the stationary guides, riders 39 and 40 are released from engagement with the wheels 31 and 32 respectively and travel with the full speed wheel 30.

Assume the sizes of articles are divided into (a) Articles up to 10 inches long to pass unfolded.

(b) Articles between 10 and 20 inches long to receive one fold at center.

(0) Articles between20 and. 34 inches long to be folded into three equal parts, viz. onethird from one edge and then at center.

(d) Articles longer than 34 inches to be folded in half and again in half.

All riders, when released by plunger action of solenoids 13 and-14, have their projections 43 in operative position that is: adapted to strike and operate switches 53 and 54 respectively, which control the folding mechanism at F, but in case (a) projections 43 on riders 39.as well as on 40 are deflected by cams 73 and 50 respectively and therefore made inactive. No fold consequently is effected. In case (b), projection 43 on rider 39 is deflected by cam 50 and thereby made inactive. But when rider 46 reaches switch 54, corresponding to the alignment of the center line of the article with folder F, it actuates the switch and causes kickup 59 to fold the article. Projection 62 on the rider being kept normally in the inactive disposition, does not actuate switch 61,50 that the rider continues on the wheel 30. After passing the solenoid 68 the projection 43 of this rider is caused to be deflected by cam 76 when in engagement with wheel 30, so that it does not actuate switch '71 and hence the article passes on with only one center fold.

In case (0) projection 43 on rider 40 is defiected by the cam 53, so that switch 53 is actuated by rider 39, while rider 40 passes by switch 54, whereby the article is folded when only one third of its length had passed the folder F. Also, projection 62 on rider 40 has been deflected by cam 64, so that when it passes switch 61 controlling solenoid 65 it actuates same and causes stop member 6'? to' come up by virtue of the energization of solenoid 65. When switch 11' is thereafter actuated by the leading edge of the folded article, solenoid 63 is energized and the rider 40 is caused to engage the half speed wheel 32 until switch 11' is released. Projection 43, which was made inoperative by cam 52, is brought back into an operative position by cam 75 simultaneously with the transfer of the rider to the half speed wheel and, thus brought into alignment with switch 71, it thereby causes the folder F to be actuated when the center of the arti- 'cle has aligned therewith.

In case ((1) projection 43 of rider 39 is de flected by cam 51 so that it proves inactive. while rider 40 actuates switch 54 for the first center fold. Otherwise'the actuations are the same as in case (0).

In all cases where riders are made inactive by the cam 76 or 51, their projections are brought back into an operative position by cams '72 before they have completed their course.

The numerals 10 to 100 and 0 to 50' disposed circumferentially around the sheaves 3 1 and 32 in Figs. 2 and 3 indicate the progress and location of the riders when travelling in engagement with these wheels, while 'the front edge of an article which releases these riders reaches the corresponding numeral shown in diagram of Fig. 8. A still more conspicuous idea of this relation may be gained by the diagrams of Fig. 13. The outer ring represents the progress of sheave 30, or the full speedwheel, the middle ring that of sheave 32, the half speed wheel, and

the inner ring that of sheave 31, the speed wheel.

The blackened zones indicate the periods during which the extension members 43 of the respective riders will be in an operative position, in case the riders are transferred from the respective slow speed to the full speed sheaves, so that they can effect a fold. The cross sectioned zones represent the transit of the article from the lower course of tapes C to the upper course after the first fold. The points of the first and second fold are also indicated.

Fig. 14 shows a similar diagram for a full, half and ,4; speed wheel. In all cases where the third wheel travels slower than the half speed wheel a stop mechanism, as illustrated by solenoid 65,

and members 66, 6'7 is necessary, in other cases it may be dispensed with.

Of course other zoning and fold division could be adopted without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will thus be seen that a device is made available which may be embodied in a remote control unit that will automatically measure articles of various lengths, select the number of folds and ratio of division proportional to the length of the article, make these selections before the actuation of the first fold, actuate the folding devices when the articles are in the desired operative relation thereto, and be automatically available for the next succeeding articles as they are continuously fed into the machine. Regardless of the rapidity of feeding and the number of small or large articles fed in succession, these operations are effected without manual aid.

of course the details of structure and arrangement of parts might be varied from the disclosure. Moreover, many widely different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. t

Accordingly what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the class described, including folding means and means for conveying articles thereto, c rcuit closing contactors in the path of said articles, a measuring and folder actuating device remotely disposed therefrom and including a plurality of riders each adapted to move at lesser and diiierentspeeds from that of said articles while same engage said contactors, and in synchronism therewith thereafter, switches in the path of said riders and disposed in coordinated relation to said folding means for actuating same, and means controlled by the lengths of said articles for selecting the actuating riders'for said switches to effect the folding when the controlling article is divided by said folding means in the selected ratio of its length.

2. In a device of the class described, including a conveyor and a device for folding flexible articles of various sizes, electrical contactors adapted to be actuated-by said articles, and a control device including a plurality of members adapted to move at various speeds in predetermined ratio to that of said articles, a plurality of riders in one of said riders after measuring a predetermined length of said articles for selecting the number of folds and means for activating the selected riders to success vely actuate said folding devices when said actuating article is in the desired operative relation with each of said folding devices.

4. In a device of the class described, including a conveyor of flexible articles of various lengths and a plurality of folding devices, a measuring and actuating device remotely controlled by said articles, and including a plurality of members moving at various speeds in predetermined ratio to that of said articles, a plurality of riders in operative relation to said members, means controlled by said articles for engaging said riders with one or another of said members, electric contactors in the path of said riders, means for deflecting all but one of said riders with respect to said contactors thereby to effect selection of the number of folds and ratio of fold division proportionate to the lengths of said articles and successive actuation of any or all of said fol-ding devices when said contactors are actuated by said riders.

5. In a control device for folding machines for automatically folding articles of various sizes, a plurality of members adapted to move at various speeds in predetermined ratio to that of said articles in their movement toward a device for folding same, a plurality of riders adapted to simultaneously engage one or a plurality of said members, means for coordinating said engagements with the disposition of said articles relative to the folding device to effect measurement of a plurality of divisions fractional of the length of said articles, electrical contactors in the path of said riders, means controlled by the length of said articles for disaligning all but one of said riders, whereby actuation of said contactors will effect the folding of said articles in the selected ratio proportional to its length.

6. In a machine of the class described, including a conveyor and a plurality of devices for folding flexible articles of various sizes, an automatic control device including means for selecting the number of folds to which each of said articles be subjected, means for selecting the ratio of fold division proportional to the length of said articles and means actuated after actuation of both of said means for actuating said folding devices when said articles had been conveyed into operative relation thereto.

7. In a control device, cooperatively connected to a folding machine for automatically folding articles of various lengths, a plurality of members, moving at various speeds in predetermined ratio to that of said articles in their movement toward a device for folding same, a plurality of riders, adapted to engage one or another of said members, means, controlled by the length of said articles for selectively engaging said riders with one or another of said members, electric contactors in the path of said riders, means, controlled by the length of said articles for disaligning all but one of said riders from the path of contact with said contactors, means to automatically delay the progress of any rider travelling further than the one selected for making the contact, until said rider has accomplished the same, and means, whereby the actuation of said contactors will effect the folding of said articles in the selected ratio proportional to the length of the article.

8. In a control device, cooperatively connected to a folding machine for automatically folding articles of various sizes a plurality of members, 105 adapted to move at various speeds in predetermined ratio to that of said articles in their movement toward a device for folding same, a plurality of riders, adapted to engage one or the other of said members, means for selectively en- 110 gaging said riders to said members according to the length of the articles, electric-contactors, in the path of the riders, adapted to actuate the folding means of the folding machine, means to put all riders at the beginning of their course 115 into an operatively engaging position with relation to said electric contactors, means for selectively disaligning any or all of said riders from their contacting path toward said electric contactors, and means 'to realign all riders at the end of their course into an operatively engaging position.

9. In a folding machine, in combination with a conveyor, electric switch members adapted to be actuated by articles carried by said conveyor and a remote control device including a plurality of members adapted to move proportionally to the speed of said actuating articles and cooperative means for selecting the number of folds and '130 ratio of fold division for each fold.

LEO M. KAHN. 

